Although Asa was not particularly outstanding among the Top Combat Powers, and was practically at the bottom once his Devil Fruit ability was excluded, the sight of him being torn in half alive still delivered a devastating shock to everyone who saw it.
This was the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield, a Top Combat Power on the same level as a Marine Admiral or Pirate Emperor. Yet now, he had actually died on a barren little island, leaving Betty and the others with an intense sense of unreality.
"Old..." Looking at Redfield's middle-aged face, Betty swallowed the "Old Man" that had reached her lips. "Lord Count Red, thank you so much for this!"
"I was merely repaying a debt." Redfield spoke indifferently. "If that little girl hadn't saved me, I might have died at sea with the next high tide."
"If Newgate and the others found out that this was how I died, they'd probably laugh their teeth out!"
The corners of Betty and the others' mouths twitched slightly. He was already thinking about how others would react after his death. As expected, even if his body had grown younger, his outlook hadn't become any younger.
"Falling into the sea?" Dragon asked in a solemn voice. "You couldn't even choose your escape route? Was the battle really that fierce?"
Betty and the others' expressions turned serious, worried that Dragon's words might anger him.
However, what they feared did not happen.
Redfield merely gave a cold laugh. "Fierce? For me, perhaps it really was."
Everyone's hearts tightened. What did he mean?
Could it be that Longinus still hadn't used his full strength in that battle?
They had intended to continue asking, but seeing his impatient expression, they wisely said nothing more.
"The World Government's people probably won't be coming again anytime soon.